Buzzr (stylized as BUZZR) is an Americandigital multicasttelevision network that is owned by FremantleMedia North America, a unit of the FremantleMedia subsidiary of RTL Group. The Buzzr TV subchannel is seen in 43 U.S. television markets. The network is also available nationwide on free-to-air C-band satellite via Galaxy 19 in the DVB-S2 format. The network is sourcing its programming from the extensive library of classic game shows owned by FremantleMedia, some of which were once part of the Game Show Network's (GSN) programming lineup.[3][4][5] The network marks Fremantle's first entry into broadcasting.[2]

History

The Buzzr brand was first used by Fremantle for a YouTube channel created and produced by its digital content studio Tiny Riot, which debuted in late 2014. The Buzzr YouTube channel features classic clips, and short-form adaptations of its game show properties (such as Family Feud and Password), with internet celebrities as contestants, primarily aimed towards millennials.[4][6][7]

On January 20, 2015, FremantleMedia announced that it would launch Buzzr TV, a digital multicast network that would serve as an extension of the brand; the network, with the Fox Television Stations as its charter station group. Buzzr TV features classic game shows from the company's programming library.[8][9][10]Thom Beers, former CEO of FremantleMedia North America, stated his interest in launching a network centered on its game show content after he joined the company in 2012, calling such a project a "top priority" for Fremantle as a way to help monetize the value of its library. The company intended to focus Buzzr toward older adults, with Beers citing that the "old-format game shows are really, really hard [for the younger viewership that the Buzzr YouTube channel targets] to watch."[4]

The Buzzr television network debuted on June 1, 2015, with the launch preceded by a preview reel outlining its initial programming that aired in an eight-hour continuous loop, starting at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The network formally launched that evening at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time with the 1963 pilot episode of Let's Make a Deal as the first show to be broadcast.[2][11][12][13]

In February 2016, Fremantle was sued by Codename Enterprises, a New York-based web development firm, for trademark infringement, dilution, and unfair competition, as it has done business under the name "Buzzr" since 2009. The suit argued that Fremantle's use of the brand on its YouTube channel had associated it with objectionable content, and alleged that Fremantle had displaced its own YouTube channel URL to point towards it.[14]

Celebrating 75 Years of the TV Game Show

In 2016, to celebrate the upcoming 75th year of the genre,[15] the network plans to create a story arc of the game show with new episodes of favorable classics, along with additional promotions and special marathons all year long.

From September 7 to September 12, 2015, Buzzr aired a specialty block called "Buzzr Lost and Found".[19] This block featured rarely seen shows from FremantleMedia's library, including unaired pilots and short-lived shows.

On October 5, 2015, Buzzr announced their new promotion for their Sunday night lineup block called "Pick & Play",[20] where it allowed viewer votes from a list of six classic shows from FremantleMedia's library (Beat the Clock, Double Dare, Now You See It, Sale of the Century, Trivia Trap and Wordplay). The top three shows that were voted by the home viewers (Beat the Clock, Sale of the Century, and Double Dare) premiered on Buzzr's Sunday night lineup block on October 18.

From December 14 to December 25, 2015, Buzzr aired a special marathon block called a "Betty White Christmas"[21][22] featuring classic game show episodes with famed actress and game show personality Betty White.

On February 7, 2016, Buzzr aired a special marathon event in conjunction with the Super Bowl, called the "Buzzr Bowl". The marathon featured five special Richard Dawson episodes of Family Feud from 1980, featuring the renowned Dallas Cowboys football players playing against the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, in addition to five episodes from the Ray Combs era in 1993, featuring the AFC quarterbacks going head-to-head with the NFC quarterbacks.

Affiliates

As of February 2016[update], Buzzr has current subchannel affiliation agreements with television stations in 43 media markets encompassing 26 states and the District of Columbia, covering over 60% of media markets in the United States.[23]

Debmar-Mercury (which serves as the distribution partner for the current syndicated run of the Fremantle-produced Family Feud) was hired by FremantleMedia to handle responsibility for the recruitment of affiliates through agreements with other broadcasting companies.[3][5][17][25] The network hopes to expand its charter affiliate footprint to reach markets covering 50 million U.S. households with at least one television set.[4]